Yesterday's print column on the Bailey O'Neill case sparked lots of reaction. I got phone calls from several readers who wanted to talk about the case.
The first call I got was from Robert O'Neill, Bailey's father. He could not have been nicer. He wanted to thank me, and the newspaper, for keeping the focus on the case, even as the family continues to await word on the results of an autopsy and what - if any - charges will be filed in the case.
They are not wavering in their belief that Bailey was the victim of bullying in the weeks leading up to an altercation on the Darby Township Elementary School playground that left him with facial injuries.
About a week later, Bailey started suffering serious medical issues. He was hospitalized and eventually his family had to make the agonizing decision to remove him from life support. Now District Attorney Jack Whelan is weighing the case, including one of the keys, that being if there is a direct correlation between the fight and Bailey's later medical issues.
Several other people who called yesterday clearly are not waiting for any doctors to weigh in. They've already made up their minds.
They believe not only that Bailey was the victim of bullying, but also that he was jumped on that playground, that this was not a "fair fight."
They are upset at the way the school handled the incident, including not immediately contacting Bailey's family, and how long it is taking to do the investigation.
There is, of course, another issue that hangs over this case. It is one that every person who calls me to complain about the delay as well as the way the newspaper has covered this story wants to talk about.
I do not.
One woman complained bitterly about what has happened in this case, and suggested that if the situation was reversed, the tone of the coverage as well as the reaction of the community would be quite different.
I'll let it go at that. Eventually, we actually had a very good conversation. But it's clear what she - and so many others - want to talk about.
As I said in the column, we now will wait on word from the D.A. When and if charges are brought, we will cover that story as well.
For now, I just can't get past how sad it all is. A vibrant 12-year-old is gone, his family and friends devastated. And so many people simply want to use the case to score points in an argument that seems to color every aspect of our lives.
Maybe I should just throw it out there and have the discussion. The only problem with that is that I don't think it would make a bit of difference. Some people only see in black and white. And it's not just the situation involving Bailey O'Neill. It's almost every story we cover.
At one point during the phone conversation, I found myself raising my voice at the woman in frustration.
"What possible difference does it make?" I wondered to her persistent complaint of bias on the part of investigators and the newspaper.
It didn't do any good. She is convinced. As are a lot of people I talked to yesterday.
None of which is going to bring Bailey O'Neill back.
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